Method for processing ingots

Abstract

A method for connecting a cylindrical ingot to a support plate includes measuring a crystal orientation of the ingot based on a diffraction of x-rays, rotating the ingot about a center axis based on the crystal orientation so that a center axis of the ingot is held parallel to a first plane and an orientation axis based on the crystal orientation is placed in a plane parallel to the first plane, adhering an intermediate plate to the ingot, adjusting a position of one of the support plate and the ingot in a plane parallel to the first plane based on the crystal orientation so that a mounting axis of the support plate is in a specific relationship with the orientation axis, and attaching the support plate to the intermediate plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for connecting a cylindrical ingot having a crystal orientation to a support plate, said plate being subsequently mounted on a machine for slicing the ingot, said method comprising steps of: measuring the crystal orientation of the ingot based on a diffraction of X-rays irradiated at the ingot;   rotating the ingot about a center axis, said center axis being held parallel to a prescribed first plane so that an orientation axis of the ingot, which is based on the crystal orientation, is placed in a plane parallel to the first plane;   adhering an intermediate plate to the rotated ingot;   adjusting a position of one of the support plate and the ingot with the adhered intermediate plate in a plane parallel to the first plane based on the measured crystal orientation so that a mounting axis of the support plate is placed in alignment with the orientation axis; and   attaching the support plate to the intermediate plate.   
     
     
       2. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a step for transferring the ingot carrying the intermediate plate to a dryer apparatus to solidify an adhesive interposed between the ingot and the intermediate plate, the transferring step being carried on before the adjusting step and the attaching step. 
     
     
       3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the support plate has a length larger than the ingot, wherein the intermediate plate has a length substantially equal to the ingot, and wherein a plurality of the ingots are sequentially adhered to the support plate by way of the intermediate plate by repetition of the rotating step, the adhering step, the adjusting step and the attaching step. 
     
     
       4. A method for connecting a cylindrical ingot, which has a crystal orientation and a center axis, to a support plate, wherein the plate is subsequently secured to a machine for slicing the ingot, the method comprising: measuring the crystal orientation of the ingot based on a reflection of X-rays, the measuring step includes: irradiating an end face of the ingot with X-rays at a plurality of angular positions of the ingot while rotating the ingot, intercepting the reflection of the X-rays, determining whether or not a maximum level of X-rays is reflected, computing the position of an orientation axis of the ingot with respect to the center axis of the ingot based on the reflection of the X-rays, after the determining step;     rotating the ingot about its center axis, the center axis being held parallel to a prescribed first plane so the orientation axis is placed in a plane parallel to the prescribed first plane by the rotation;   adjusting a position of one of the support plate and the ingot in a plane parallel to the first plane based on the measured crystal orientation so that a mounting axis of the support plate is in alignment with the orientation axis; and   connecting the ingot and the support plate to one another so that the ingot and the support plate act as a unitary body and the alignment is fixed.   
     
     
       5. The method of claim 4 wherein the rotation of the ingot in the irradiating step is stopped when the level of X-ray deflection reaches a maximum. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 5 wherein the support plate has a longitudinal direction, and the length of the support plate is greater than that of the ingot as measured in the same direction, and wherein the ingot is one of a plurality of ingots that are attached to the support plate. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 5 further comprising a step of attaching an intermediate plate to the ingot prior to connecting the support plate and the ingot to one another, wherein the support plate is attached to the intermediate plate. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 7 wherein adhesive is used to connect the intermediate plate to the ingot, and wherein the ingot is conveyed to a dryer to dry the adhesive prior to the adjusting step. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 7 wherein the intermediate plate has a longitudinal direction, and the length of the intermediate plate in its longitudinal direction is approximately the same as that of the ingot, and the support plate has a longitudinal direction, and the length of the support plate is greater than that of the ingot as measured in the same direction, and wherein the ingot is one of a plurality of ingots that are attached to the support plate with corresponding intermediate plates. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 4 wherein the adjusting step places the orientation axis and the mounting axis in a common plane. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 10 further comprising a step of attaching an intermediate plate to the ingot prior to connecting the support plate and the ingot to one another, wherein the support plate is attached to the intermediate plate. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 11 wherein adhesive is used to connect the intermediate plate to the ingot, and wherein the ingot is conveyed to a dryer to dry the adhesive prior to the adjusting step. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 11 wherein the intermediate plate has a longitudinal direction, and the length of the intermediate plate in its longitudinal direction is approximately the same as that of the ingot, and the support plate has a longitudinal direction, and the length of the support plate is greater than that of the ingot as measured in the same direction, and wherein the ingot is one of a plurality of ingots that are attached to the support plate with corresponding intermediate plates. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 10 wherein the support plate has a longitudinal direction, and the length of the support plate is greater than that of the ingot as measured in the same direction, and wherein the ingot is one of a plurality of ingots that are attached to the support plate. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 4 further comprising a step of attaching an intermediate plate to the ingot prior to connecting the support plate and the ingot to one another, wherein the support plate is attached to the intermediate plate. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 15 wherein adhesive is used to connect the intermediate plate to the ingot, and wherein the ingot is conveyed to a dryer to dry the adhesive prior to the adjusting step. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim 15 wherein the intermediate plate has a longitudinal direction, and the length of the intermediate plate in its longitudinal direction is approximately the same as that of the ingot, and the support plate has a longitudinal direction, and the length of the support plate is greater than that of the ingot as measured in the same direction, and wherein the ingot is one of a plurality of ingots that are attached to the support plate with corresponding intermediate plates. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 4 wherein the support plate has a longitudinal direction, and the length of the support plate is greater than that of the ingot as measured in the same direction, and wherein the ingot is one of a plurality of ingots that are attached to the support plate. 
     
     
       19. A method for connecting a cylindrical ingot to a support plate, wherein the support plate is subsequently secured to a machine for slicing the ingot, the ingot having a crystal orientation and a center axis, the method comprising: determining the position of an orientation axis of the ingot, which is based on the crystal orientation;   rotating the ingot about the center axis to an angular position wherein the orientation axis and the center axis are parallel to a prescribed first plane;   attaching an intermediate plate to the circumferential surface of the rotated ingot with adhesive;   adjusting the position of the support plate with respect to the ingot so that a mounting axis, which extends through the support plate, is placed in alignment with the orientation axis;   fixing the support plate to the intermediate plate while maintaining the alignment relationship.   
     
     
       20. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising: transferring the ingot to the machine, wherein the machine has a strand of wire for slicing the ingot;   mounting the support plate, which is carried by the ingot, to the machine with the orientation axis being perpendicular to the wire; and   slicing the ingot with the wire.   
     
     
       21. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising: transferring the ingot to the machine, wherein the machine has a wire for slicing the ingot;   securing the support plate to the machine so that the orientation axis is held at a predetermined angle to the wire; and   slicing the ingot with the wire.